Recently, SXSW canceled two panels on gaming and online harassment due to threats of violence, rape, and animal abuse. By canceling the events, the conference sent the message that it condones the very type of harassment it sought to highlight.
In response, we launched a #NotBuyingIt campaign and were joined by individual leaders, media outlets, and SXSW participants (such as BuzzFeed, Vox, and Verge). Through this coalition, SXSW received hundreds of #NotBuyingIt tweets from around the globe, calling on SXSW to create a safe place for women to speak out online and at their conference. Thanks to you, SXSW publicly apologized within five days and announced an all-day summit on harassment.

BuzzFeed plans to withdraw its participation from the South by Southwest Interactive festival after organizers decided to cancel two gaming and online harassment panels after receiving "numerous threats of on-site violence." In a letter to the organizers of the Austin-based media festival sent Tuesday, President of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures Ze Frank, BuzzFeed Publisher Dao Nguyen, and BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith wrote, "We will feel compelled to withdraw ...

After the organizers of the SXSW conference canceled an anti-harassment panel due to "threats of violence," Vox Media is reevaluating its participation in the SXSW conference. Vox, the parent company of The Verge, says it will not be participating in this year's conference unless changes are made.

Earlier this week we made a mistake. By canceling two sessions we sent an unintended message that SXSW not only tolerates online harassment but condones it, and for that we are truly sorry. The resulting feedback from the individuals involved and the community-at-large resonated loud and clear.

Last week, the conference South by Southwest (SXSW) canceled two panels on gaming and online harassment due to threats of violence, rape, and animal abuse. By canceling the events, the conference sent the message that it condones the very type of harassment it sought to highlight.

If you're not on Twitter, fill out this contact form and continue to push for a safe space for healthy, productive dialogue. Together, we can create a world free of social injustices so that everyone can be safe from gender-based harassment.